Kent County League

Division 3 Central & East

Tuesday 26th April 2022

Kick Off 18.30 On Time !

Lenham Wanderers 1 West Kingsdown 2, attendance 43

22’ 0-1

52’ 1-1

77’ 1-2

@ The William Pitt Field

Old Ham Lane

Lenham

ME17 2LR

No Admission or Programme.

This match should have been played earlier in the season, but was called off at short notice by Lenham, for which they received a deduction of one point as punishment for failing to fulfil the fixture. They came into this in ninth place in the league table, so had nothing to play for, but West Kingsdown certainly did, as they required seven points from their remaining four matches, to guarantee finishing ahead of second placed A.F.C. Rangers for the title, with both clubs having already secured promotion. On top of this, they were hoping to go undefeated for the season, having won 16 and drawn 2 from their opening 18 games.

Lenham certainly didn’t make it easy for West Kingsdown, especially in the opening 15 minutes or so. The visitors finally went ahead after twenty two minutes, having already had two goals disallowed for offside, when their lightning quick right winger crossed for an easy tap in at the far post. Lenham never looked like drawing level, but seven minutes into the second half, out of nothing, a ball was played forward and volleyed in on the turn, from the angle of the 18 yard box, to make it 1-1.

West Kingsdown pushed for a winner and when Lenham lost their ’keeper to injury with twenty minutes left, replaced by an outfield player, it looked like their job might be easier. It wasn’t, as the stand in did well and pulled off a cracking save, but minutes later he was beaten, when another rapid breakaway down the right saw the ball played across the six yard box and it was bundled across the line to give the visitors a 1-2 win.

Tunbridge Wells Senior Charity Cup

Semi Final

Saturday 23rd April 2022

Kick Off 13.30 Actual 13.29

Hawkenbury 2 West Farleigh 0, attendance 30

7’ 1-0

75’ 2-0

@ Hawkenbury Recreation Ground

Hawkenbury Road

Hawkenbury

TN2 5BU

No Admission or Programme.

I never visited Hawkenbury during their five seasons spent in the Kent County League Division 2 East from 2009/10 to 2013/14. I only got to visit the ground today, after Tunbridge Wells District Council gave the club permission to play one final game here, before removing the goal posts for the Summer.

Hawkenbury are in fourth place in the Sevenoaks & District League Premier Division, whilst West Farleigh play two levels higher, in Kent County League Division 2 Central & East, where they are second in the table, very much in the running for one of the two promotion spots and still able to take the title.

The game was played in very windy conditions, not helped by the ground being very exposed. Despite being well grassed, apart from the two six yard boxes, the pitch was awful, being rock hard and very dusty and certainly affected the game. Hawkenbury went ahead early, a defender heading into his own net, trying to cut out a diagonal free kick into the box. West Farleigh always gave the impression that they would turn things round, but the equaliser just didn’t come. The killer second goal came fifteen minutes from time, when an innocuous effort from 25 yards, somehow went under the ’keeper.

Coventry Alliance League

Bermuda Cup Group Match

Thursday 21st April 2022

Kick Off 18.00 Actual 18.17

Jaguar Daimler 1 A.F.C. Binley Reserves 2, attendance 37

2’ 1-0

58’ 1-1

63’ 1-2

@ Daimler Green Community Centre

Highley Drive

Daimler Green

Coventry

CV6 3LR

No Admission or Programme.

I had visited the Jaguar Daimler Sports Ground, in Middlemarch Road, back on 16th May 1994, when I saw Massey-Ferguson beat Swift P.P. 2-1 in the Midland Combination League Challenge Vase Final. That ground is no more, now part of a huge new housing estate. Jaguar Daimler now play at the Daimler Green Community Centre, no more than 150-200 yards from their former home. It is a two pitch set up, with a surprisingly busy and well used clubhouse.

For the second time this midweek, I found myself at a game that kicked off well behind schedule, this finally getting underway 17 minutes late, despite both teams warming up well before kick off. These two are both in Division 2, with 7th hosting 6th, as far as league positions go. Jaguar Daimler got off to a flying start, volleying in from a corner within two minutes. Binley had plenty of chances to level it up, but it wasn’t until thirteen minutes into the second half, that they got a deserved equaliser, the striker knocking the ball past a defender, before curling a shot past ‘keeper into the far corner. Five minutes later, the same player got what turned out to be the winner, nicking the ball past the ’keeper in a race to a through ball. A decent game, considering it was on a rock hard pitch and it didn’t help that the dimensions were huge, which never helps at this level, as players lack both the skill and fitness levels to make use of it.

Gloucestershire Northern Senior League

Division 2

Wednesday 20th April 2022

Kick Off 18.30 Actual 18.31

Staunton & Corse 1 Kings Stanley 1, attendance 19

9’ 1-0 (pen)

79’ 1-1

@ Corse & Staunton Playing Fields

Gloucester Road

Corse

GL19 3RQ

No Admission or Programme.

There was nothing riding on this match, both teams sitting comfortably in mid table, as 9th hosted 7th. It was not a bad game though. Staunton & Corse went ahead inside ten minutes from the penalty spot. Kings Stanley created plenty of chances, but it took them until eleven minutes from time to finally get an equaliser, when a corner from the right was headed back across the six yard box and finished off with a looping header into the far corner.

The ground is shared with Corse & Staunton Cricket Club, with the football pitch being furthest from the pavilion.

Essex Olympian League

Premier Division

Tuesday 19th April 2022

Kick Off 18.15 Actual 18.33

Sungate 4 Harold Wood Athletic 0, attendance 36

29’ 1-0

56’ 2-0

66’ 3-0

78’ 4-0

@ Ilford Wanderers R.F.C.

Forest Road

Hainaut

IG6 3HJ

No Admission or Programme.

This was 7th versus 15th (bottom) in the league table. I am always concerned at this time of the season when watching matches involving teams at the bottom end of the table, that they might call off the game at short notice, but no such problem here, and good to see that the visitors even had five substitutes. There didn’t seem too much urgengy in actually getting the game started, but we finally got underway eighteen minutes late, which meant it was getting gloomy when the game finished.

Harold Wood were well in the game early on. They hit the bar, with a volley that the ’keeper was nowhere near, minutes before Sungate opened the scoring, scrambling in from close range, after a powerful downward header had been saved by the ’keeper, following a corner on the right. Sungate hit the bar themselves, with a lob, but it remained 1-0 at halftime. The second half was more one sided, as Sungate ran in three more goals, the pick of the bunch being a thirty yarder that rounded off the scoring.

The Ilford Wanderers R.F.C. ground is at the far end of the lane when entering off Forest Road and has three pitches. The Sungate pitch is the middle of the three, flanked by a floodlit rugby pitch and another, unenclosed, football pitch. It now completes visits to the three grounds on this lane that runs northwards off Forest Road. I had seen Manford Way lose 1-2 (AET) to Frenford Senior in an Essex F.A. Premier Cup Quarter Final on 5th March 2011, which was played on the London Marathon Sports Ground, which is on the left hand side of the driveway. Then on 3rd December 2011, I saw Westhamians beat tonight’s visitors Harold Wood Athletic 1-0 in an Essex Olympian League Premier Division match. That was played on a railed off pitch on Fairlop Oak Playing Fields, which is to the right of the driveway, behind the Fairlop Powerleague centre.

Somerset County League

Division 1

Monday 18th April 2022

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 15.02

Staplegrove 0 Yatton & Cleeve United 1, attendance 24

19’ 0-1

@ Staplegrove Sports Club

Bishops Playing Fields

Manor Road

Staplegrove

TA2 6EG

No Admission or Programme.

Staplegrove is a couple of miles northwest of Taunton, so was an ideal choice on my return from Cornwall. It was 13th versus 8th in the league table. Staplegrove have pulled themselves up to fourth bottom in the table (the bottom two go down) with 10 points from their last four matches coming into this and were unlucky not to add to that impressive run this afternoon.

Yatton & Cleeve United had an effort come back off the post in the opening minutes, and could have scored a couple of goals, before going ahead after nineteen minutes, the ’keeper saving the first shot, but being beaten by the rebound. Numerous chances were created, but wasted, by both teams and it was a surprise that there were no further goals. It did look like Staplegrove had grabbed an equaliser right at the death, when the Yatton ’keeper got his glove caught in the goal netting as he punched a cross clear, under challenge from a striker, but both Linesman and Referee were of the opinion the ball hadn’t crossed the line. If it didn’t, it is hard to see how he got caught in the net.

Staplegrove finished the day four points clear of second bottom Nailsea & Tickenham Reserves, and with two games in hand, it is looking likely that they will stay up.

St. Piran League

West Division

Saturday 16th April 2022

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 15.01

St. Day 2 Mullion 4, attendance 85

13’ 0-1

26’ 0-2

47’ 1-2

61’ 1-3

70’ 1-4

90’ 2-4

@ Vogue Park

Vogue Terrace

St. Day

TR16 5NQ

£3 Admission

No Programme.

As with yesterday, I was left with little choice of games if I was to avoid reserve opposition. It was a toss up between leaders Illogan R.B.L., who were hosting bottom of the table St. Ives Town, or this game, which was 2nd versus 3rd in the league table. In the end, there was only one game anyway, as St. Ives decided less than three hours before kick off that they couldn’t be bothered to ’raise a team’ and are one to be avoided at all costs in future, unless there is a nearby back up. With Illogan being awarded the three points for the St. Ives ’no show’, it meant there was an even greater significance to this match. If St. Day lost, then Illogan would be champions. Ten minutes before kick off the Illogan squad arrived to watch the game, taking over the balcony at the front of the clubhouse.

Mullion started very brightly, opening the scoring on thirteen minutes, before doubling their lead on twenty six minutes, when touching in a cross at the near post. It was still 0-2 at halftime, but St. Day were back in it two minutes after the restart, scrambling the ball over the line from close range. It was certainly game on now, especially when Mullion had a player sin binned four minutes later. The ten men edged 1-3 in front, scoring directly from a corner, with what was the last kick before they were back up to the full complement of eleven, following the sin bin, and with twenty minutes left it was 1-4, when a through ball was finished with a first time shot. Each away goal had been greeted with a louder cheer than the last, and Illogan knew they were about to take the title. St Day did pull it back to 2-4 in the final minute, but it was too late to alter the outcome.

So Illogan are champions, with four games to spare. St. Day remain second, but only lead Mullion, who have the better goal difference, by a single point. Both have three games to play.

St. Piran League

West Division

Friday 15th April 2022

Kick Off 11.00 Actual 11.04

St. Agnes 5 Perranporth 0, attendance 82

16’ 1-0 (pen)

34’ 2-0

49’ 3-0 (pen)

76’ 4-0

85’ 5-0

@ Ynys Parc

Trevaunance Road

St. Agnes

TR5 0SS

£3 Admission

No Programme.

I only had the choice of two previously unvisited grounds in the south of the country today, and as the game at St. Mawgan involved reserve opposition, I went with this, which was 7th versus 14th in the league table. The hosts are too far adrift to challenge for the top places, but Perranporth needed the points in their fight against relegation. Even though the clubs are just 5 miles apart, it never really had the feel of a local derby. Perhaps if it hadn’t been so one sided, it may have been different.

St. Agnes went ahead with a penalty after sixteen minutes and doubled their lead just after the half hour mark, which more or less ended it as a contest. Right on halftime a Perranporth player suffered a bad ankle injury, which looked like it might have meant the game being abandoned. An ambulance was called, but it was thought it would be at least two hours before it would arrive. The Referee sensibly said they would take halftime and see how things developed from there. In the meantime, the player was stretchered off and after a break of 36 minutes, we were back underway, just as the injured player was taken to hospital by car.

Within four minutes of the restart it was 3-0, the hosts scoring with a second penalty, and the visitors then held out until fourteen minutes from time, before a dipping 30 yarder sailed over the ’keeper, to make it 4-0. Their bad day continued, having a man sent off for picking up a second yellow card, before St. Agnes made it 5-0 with five minutes left.

Bedfordshire County League

Premier Division

Wednesday 13th April 2022

Kick Off 18.15 Actual 18.13

Stevington 3 Sharnbrook 3, attendance 43

16’ 0-1

31’ 1-1

36’ 1-2

77’ 1-3

80’ 2-3

89’ 3-3 (pen)

@ Pavenham Village Hall & Playing Field

Bedford Road

Pavenham

MK43 7PH

No Admission or Programme.

Tonight’s match was 9th versus 1st in the league table. Sharnbrook are going for back to back titles, having won Division 1 ‘B’ last season, where they were undefeated in their 22 league matches, winning 17 of them.

Stevington matched them early on, but Sharnbrook gradually got on top, going ahead with a shot that seemed to deceive the ’keeper as he was left flat footed as the shot flew into the corner. Stevington levelled with their only shot on target in the first half, half an hour in, with an angled shot beating the ’keeper at the near post. A header from a corner saw Sharnbrook edge back in front before halftime and the points looked safe when a lob from inside the box put them 1-3 up with thirteen minutes left. A short back pass saw a Stevington substitute lift the ball over the ’keeper with his first touch of the ball since coming on, to make it 2-3 just three minutes later and out of nothing they made it 3-3 with a minute left, when they dispatched a penalty, awarded for a push in the back, which was hotly disputed by the visitors, but looked the correct decision to me. No sooner had they levelled, they had a player sin binned and Sharnbrook should have won it in stoppage time, but a great chance was blazed over the bar, when it looked easier to score.

National League U19 Alliance

Division E

Wednesday 13th April 2022

Kick Off 14.15 Actual 14.19

Aldershot Town London U19 1 Worthing U19 13, attendance 9

@ Bannister Sports Centre, 3G Pitch

Uxbridge Road

Harrow

HA3 6SW

No Admission or Programme.

This afternoon’s match was an opportunity to visit a ground that is also home to Middlesex County League Premier Division team F.C. Soma. It is a standard cage set up, with a spectator area along one side, bar a few sections of high fencing. It was also en route, sort of, for my intended evening match in Bedfordshire.

Unfortunately, this league can throw up some absolutely farcical scores, this being one of them, although at least there was an excuse of sorts for Aldershot. Facing a fixture backlog, for some reason they decided it would be a good idea to play a ’double header’ today, using just a squad of 16 or 17 players. They played Carshalton Athletic at 11.15, going down 2-5, before having just over an hours rest, before taking on Worthing. The fact they were playing the team second in the league table, followed by the league leaders, just seems ridiculous and gives a poor impression of how things are run at Aldershot.

It was 0-3 after just nineteen minutes, before Aldershot pulled one back on thirty minutes with the goal of the game, an absolute thunderbolt into the top corner from the edge of the box. It was 1-6 by halftime and the goals kept flowing after the break, as Worthing ran in seven more with very little resistance. The Aldershot ’keeper actually pulled off a fair number of saves and couldn’t be blamed for any of the goals. As for Worthing, they actually used three different ’keepers. The original one went off injured, before two different outfield players had a spell between the sticks. They could have played without a ’keeper and would still have won easily.